Help Getting Started

[serratus]

Just getting started for the first time for a reef aquarium.

So far I just have a 50gal tank and TEK 36" 6-bulb T5HO lights.
I was looking on ebay for filters/heaters etc and found these. Are these any good?

Fluval 405
Penn Plax Cascade Submersible Aquarium Heater 300 watt
WORK-HORSE Aquarium Powerhead 250 GPH

What else would I be needing? It seems the references on these forums highly recommend a protein skimmer and claim that a good skimmer it is more important than a good filter. Local marine aquarium specialists seems to say that protein skimmer is not really needed.

Planning to make my aquarium look like this after a year or two with similar inhabitants:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmYb_...aynext_from=PL

BTW, I don't have enough room to do a sump setup.